Prince’s Trust Team programme trainee Aaran Davids spent two weeks on work experience with Pimlico Plumbers’ team of experienced technicians – and on his last day took home a cheque for £4,000 for the youth charity.
Aaran (left) armed with the cheque for £4,000 in his back pocket, gets to work with Pimlico Plumbers' Ian Ruse.

The 19-year-old from Walthamstow was on board at Pimlico - London's largest independent plumbing and service company - learning the ropes as a carpenter, and, after grafting hard on the tools, collected a £4,000 donation for The Trust.

The money was raised by the Pimlico Plumbers Band, from sales of a charity CD released after they won a BBC One talent show - Tonight's the Night.

The Prince's Trust Team programme gives disadvantaged young people the skills, confidence and work experience to find a job.

During Aaran's work placement he helped out with the refurbishment of the Pimlico depot, and also travelled around London working with the Pimlico technicians on the road, using his newly-gained skills.

Never Mind the Ballcocks, the Pimlico Plumbers band was formed by heating engineers Stuart Dunne (lead vocals and guitar) and Robbie Glanfied (bass guitar and back-up vocals) with carpenter Billy Kikidis on drums.

The work experience is part of Pimlico's ongoing support of The Princes' Trust. Managing Director Charlie Mullins is an Enterprise Fellow of The Trust, which involves helping to motivate and inspire disadvantage young people to become entrepreneurs.

Aaran, who went to Warwick School for Boys in Walthamstow, said: 'The two weeks at Pimlico have been excellent experience; going out with the guys was great. I have been interested in carpentry for a while and The Prince's Trust has given me the start I needed and it's certainly positive for my CV.'

'Supporting The Princes' Trust gives me the opportunity to help young people like Aaran,' said Charlie Mullins, managing director of Pimlico Plumbers. 'It is important that they gain practical experience in the work place.

'Aaran is the latest Prince's Trust trainee to come to Pimlico, and he's certainly been one of the best. Everyone he's worked with has commented on how keen he was to learn and how he turned his hand to anything they threw his way. He really is the kind of lad who deserves the chance to gain skills which hopefully will lead him in to a successful career.'

'Pimlico Plumbers is a great supporter of our work, helping us to change young lives across the UK,' says Julian Barrell, director of fundraising, The Prince's Trust.

'This support is more important than ever to help thousands of unemployed young people into jobs.'

More than three in four young people on Prince's Trust schemes go onto work, education or training.